Unilateral partial hemilaminectomy for disc removal in a 1-year-old child

Abstract

Intravertebral disc herniation is common in adults, often due to degenerative processes. The occurrence of disc herniation is rare in children and is usually related to traumatic injury. The authors present an unusual case of a 13-month-old boy with L5–S1 lumbar disc herniation. The disc was removed via a unilateral partial hemilaminectomy approach, sparing the spinal midline structural elements. Although rare, lumbar disc herniation should be in the differential diagnosis for children presenting with low-back pain and/or neurological deficit of the lower limbs.